Lake
Trout or Lake Char

Salvelinus
namaycush

DESCRIPTION
-
The Lake Trout or Lake Char is typically
15-20 inches long, weighing an average
of 10 pounds but they have been known
to exceed 100 pounds. The body, colored
light green or grey, dark green, brown
or almost black with lighter colored spots
is typically troutlike, elongate.

DISTRIBUTION
- The lake trout occurs naturally and
is widely distributed only in North America.
It can readily be found in northern British
Columbia in shallow lakes and in rivers
and in the south of BC, in deeper lakes.
It is the least tolerant of salt water
of all the chars.

BIOLOGY
- This fish spawns in late autumn in inland
lakes up to depths of 40 feet. The female
lays 400-1200 eggs and hatching occurs
4-5 months later. The lake trout is predaceous
and feed upon crustaceans, insects, many
species of fish and even small mammals.

RELATION
TO MAN - The lake trout / lake char
is highly prized both as a gamefish and
as a commercial species. Anglers catch
this species by fly or spin fishing early
in the spring. The flesh may be white,
pink, orange or orange-red, the color
being influenced by the diet. It has an
excellent flavor and is mostly eaten fresh
but it is sometimes smoked.